Sprayer with wind screen and adjustable wheels

ABSTRACT

A spraying apparatus which is particularly suitable for spraying a marking stripe on pavement, grass, or other surfaces is provided with adjustable axles so that the distance of the spray can from the surface can be changed to vary the width of the stripe and with a wind screen which remains in the same relative position with respect to the surface as the axles are adjusted to protect the spray pattern from wind. The apparatus includes a somewhat box-like frame, and the sides of the frame are provided with generally vertically extending front and rear rows of openings for the front and rear axles. The frame includes holding means for holding an aerosol spray can filled with marking material, and the holding means are constructed and arranged so that the marking material is sprayed substantially below the front of the frame to permit marking stripes to be sprayed right up to an obstacle in front of the spraying apparatus. The wind screen extends around the outside of the frame, and each side of the wind screen is provided with a front and a rear opening through which the front and rear axles extend. The openings in the wind screen are positioned relative to the bottom edge of the wind screen so that the bottom edge will be positioned just above the surface to be sprayed. As the distance of the frame from the surface is varied by inserting the axles through various openings in the frame, the position of the wind screen relative to the surface remains constant since only one opening for each axle is provided through each side of the wind screen.

United States Patent [191 Smrt [ Mar. 12, 1974 SPRAYER WITH WIND SCREEN AND ADJUSTABLE WHEELS [76] Inventor: Thomas J. Smrt, 4N 671 Rt. 59,

Bartlett, 111. 60103 22 Filed: Dec. 29, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 319,780

Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant ExaminerThomas E. Kocovsky 5 7 ABSTRACT A spraying apparatus which is particularly suitable for spraying a marking stripe on pavement, grass, or other surfaces is provided with adjustable axles so that the distance of the spray can from the surface can be changed to vary the width of the stripe and with a wind screen which remains in the same relative position with respect to the surface as the axles are adjusted to protect the spray pattern from wind. The apparatus includes a'somewhat box-like frame, and the sides of the frame are provided with generally vertically extending front and rear rows of openings for the front and rear axles. The frame includes holding means for holding an aerosol spray can filled with marking material, and the holding means are constructed and arranged so that the marking material is sprayed substantially below the front of the frame to permit marking stripes to be sprayed right up to an obstacle in front of the spraying apparatus. The wind screen extends around the outside of the frame, and each side of the wind screen is provided with a front and a rear opening through which the front and rear axles extend. The openings in the wind screen are p0- sitioned relative to the bottom edge of the wind screen so that the bottom edge will be positioned just above the surface to be sprayed. As the distance of the frame from the surface is varied by inserting the axles through various openings in the frame, the position of the wind screen relative to the surface remains constant since only one opening for each axle is provided through each side of the wind screen.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures SPRAYER WITH WHND SCREEN AND ADJUSTABLE WHEELS BACKGROUND This invention relates to a spraying apparatus, and, more particularly, to a spraying apparatus which can be wheeled over the surface which is to be sprayed, such as pavement, athletic fields, and the like.

The spraying apparatus described herein is a modification of the apparatus described in my prior US. Pat. No. 3,700,144, issued Oct. 24, 1972. As explained in my patent, it is often desirable to apply an indicating line or stripe to a surface. For example, stripes may be applied to pavement to indicate parking spaces, directional signals, etc., to floors to indicate walkways, athletic fields to indicate out-of-bounds, goals, etc., and other surfaces. Such spraying devices can also be used to apply materials other than marking material, e.g., herbicide, insecticide, etc.

It is desirable that spraying devices used for these purposes be relatively economical, easy to operate, and accurate. Further, since it is often advantageous to apply stripes having varying widths, it is desirable that a spraying device be capable of being adjusted to provide stripes of different widths. In many cases the stripe should extend right up to an obstacle, such as a wall, a parking barricade, heavy machinery, or the like, and it is desirable that the spraying device be capable of spraying a stripe in a continuous line right up to or adjacent such an obstacle.

Many marking devices are operated out of doors, for example, when marking a parking lot, and wind conditions are often such that the marking material is blown by the wind as it is sprayed toward the surface so that the resulting stripe is uneven and ragged.

SUMMARY The invention provides a spraying apparatus which may be wheeled over the surface to be marked so that the stripe can be made right up to or adjacent an obstacle in front of the apparatus. The spparatus is equipped with a wind screen which is positioned slightly above the surface to protect the marking material from wind as it is sprayed toward the surface, and the distance of the spray can from the surface can be adjusted to vary the width of the stripe that is being sprayed. Even though the position of the can relative to the surface is adjustable, the wind screen maintains a constant spacing relative to the surface to provide maximum wind protection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which;

FIG. I is a perspective view of the apparatus with a portion of the handle broken away;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus from a different angle;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 6 with the can removed;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the bottom of the apparatus with the can in place;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the botton of the apparatus with the can removed;

FIG. 6 is an elevational sectional view such as would be seen along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 with the frame in its uppermost position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the contents of the can being sprayed and the frame in its lowermost position; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. l and 2, the numeral 10 designates generally a spraying apparatus which includes-a box-like frame 11 and a generally upwardly extending handle 12. The frame is supported for movement over the surface which is to be sprayed by a pair of front wheels 13 and I4 and a pair of rear wheels 15 and 16. The apparatus is adapted to hold an aerosol spray can 17, which can be filled with paint, other marking material, herbicide, insecticide, etc. For convenience, the invention will be explained with reference to marking material. The aerosol can does not include a dip tube, so that the aerosol propellant expels the contents of the can when the can is held in a generally downwardly extending position as illustratedv in FIGS. 6 and 7. Further, the valve of the can is of the type which is activated when moved generally laterally, i.e., transversely of the longitudinal axis of the can. Such a can and valve are well known and need not be explained herein.

The frame includes generally vertically extending side walls 18 and 19, a generally vertically extending rear wall 20, and a front wall 21 which has a lower vertically extending portion 22 and an upper inclined portion 23 which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the lower portion. The lower edges of the walls of the frame extend in a horizontal plane to provide a rectangular perimetric lower edge 24 (FIGS. 6 and 7).

A bottom wall 25 extends between the side walls and includes a rear portion 26 which extends forwardly from the bottom edge of the rear wall 20, an intermediate portion 27 which extends upwardly at approximately the middle of the frame, and a forward portion 28 which extends upwardly and forwardly from the intermediate portion 27. A generally upwardly extending wall 29 extends upwardly and rearwardly from the front of the front portion 28 of the bottom wall and extends parallel to the inclined portion 23 of the front wall. The wall 22 terminates in a generally rearwardly extending top portion 30 which is provided with a central opening through which the handle 12 extends.

The wall 29 is spaced from the inclined front wall portion 23 a distance approximately the same as the outside diameter of the spray can 17, and a pair of canconfining walls 311. and 32 extend between the walls 23 and 29 generally perpendicularly thereto. The walls 31 and 32 are also spaced apart a distance approximately the same as the outer diameter of the can, and the can is thereby held relatively securely when inserted in the rectangular chamber provided by the walls 23, 29, 31, and 32. Each of the walls 31 and 32 terminate in flat end flanges 33 and 34 respectively, which abut the walls 23 and 29 and which may be suitably secured thereto, as by welding. A generally C-shaped bracket 35 is secured to the front wall portion 23 and includes a central portion 36 (FIG. 5) and upper and lower flange portions 37 and 38. The upper flange 37 is engageable with the edge of the cylindrical body of the can and provides a lower stop for the can as it is inserted into the can-holding chamber. The upper flange 37 thereby maintains the valve nozzle 39 of the can a fixed distance above the lower edge 24 of the frame.

The valve-actuating means for opening the valve of the can is similar to the valve-actuating means described in my aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,700,144. The bottom of the handle 12 is secured to the bottom wall of the frame by a bolt 42 (FIG. 6) which extends through the front portion 28 of the bottom wall, and a bellcrank 43 is rotatably mounted on a bracket 44 by a bolt 45. The bracket 44 is formed from a pair of bracket halves 44a and 44b which straddle the handle 12 and which are secured to the handle by bolts 46.

The bellcrank 43 includes a pair of crank arms 47 and 48, and the crank arm 48 extends through a slot 49 provided in the bottom wall portion 28. An actuating cable 50 is secured to the outer end of the other crank arm 47 for rotating the bellcrank about the pivot 45. The upper end of the cable 50 is attached to a trigger 51 (FIG. 1) pivotally secured to the upper end of the handle.

The nozzle 39 is mounted on a conventional valve stem 53 (FIG. 8) which opens the valve by being moved laterally, and the valve stem is actuated by a slide plate 54 (FIG. which is slidably mounted below the forward portion 28 of the bottom wall of the frame. The slide plate includes an elongated sliding or attaching portion 55 and a generally rectangular actuating portion 56 which extends parallel to the slide portion 55 but which is offset downwardly therefrom by a connecting portion 57. The slide portion 55 is slidably secured to the bottom wall by three bolts 58 which extend through three longitudinally extending slots 59 in the slide portion. The heads of the bolts 58 and washers 60 hold the slide portion against the bottom wall of the frame, and the shank portions of the bolts cooperate with the slots to guide the sliding movement of the slide plate. If desired, a bearing or wear plate of Teflon, nylon, or other suitable material can be interposed between the slide portion and the bottom wall to facilitate the sliding movement of the slide plate. The lower end of the crank arm 48 of the bellcrank extends through a slot 61 of the sliding portion of the slide plate, and counterclockwise rotation of the bellcrank from the position illustrated in FIG. 6 causes sliding movement of the slide plate away from the front wall portion 23.

The actuating portion of the slide plate is provided with a rectangular opening 62 having a front valveengaging edge 63. The position of the actuating portion 56 of the slide plate relative to the can stop 37 is such that the front edge 63 of the opening 62 is engageable with the valve nozzle 39 as the slide plate is moved away from the front wall by the bellcrank. The slide plate is normally maintained in the position illustrated in FIG. 6, in which the front edge 62 is positioned slightly forwardly of the valve nozzle 39, and the slide plate is maintained in this forward position by a spring 64 which biases the slide plate forwardly so that the bolts 58 engage the rear edges of the slots 59. The spring 64 extends between a spring attaching portion 65 which extends downwardly from the forward end of the actuating portion of the slide plate and the bottom flange 38 of the bracket 35.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, each of the side walls 18 and 19 are provided with four vertically spaced openings 70, 71, 72, and 73. which are arranged in a generally vertically extending row adjacent the rear of the frame and four vertically spaced openings 74, 75, 76, and 77 which are arranged in a vertically extending row generally below the can. A bushing 78 of nylon or other suitable low-friction material is inserted in each of the openings -77, and each bushing is provided with a central opening sized to rotatably receive the front and rear axles 79 and 80, respectively.

The plurality of vertically extending front and rear openings permit the position of the frame, and therefore the can, relative to the surface to be sprayed to be adjusted as desired. For example, in FIG. 6 the front and rear axle 79 and 80 are in the lowermost openings 74 and 70, respectively, of the front and rear rows of openings, and the lower edge 24 of the frame is thereby positioned above the surface S a distance approximately the same as the radius of the wheels. In FIG. 7 the axles extend through the uppermost openings 73 and 77, and the edge 24 is positioned a relatively small distance above the surface. The position of the axles can be changed as desired merely by removing one of the wheels from each axle, withdrawing the axle from the openings, and reinserting the axles in the desired openings.

A generally rectangular wind screen 82 extends around the outer periphery of the frame and is supported by the axles. The wind screen includes front and rear generally vertically extending walls 83 and 84, and opposite side walls and 86. The distance between the front and rear walls 83 and 84 is only slightly greater than the distancebetween the rear wall 20 of the frame and the vertically extending front wall portion 22, and the distance between the side walls 85 and 86 of the wind screen is only slightly greater than the distance between the side walls 18 and 19 of the frame.

The wind screen is therefore capable of upward and downward sliding movement relative to the frame.

The wind screen includes a rectangular top and bottom edges 87 and 88, and an axle opening 89 is provided through each of the side walls 85 and 86 adjacent the upper edge 87 for each of the front and rear axles. The openings 89 are positioned relative to the bottom edge 88 of the wind screen so that the bottom edge is positioned just slightly above the lowermost point of the wheels and the surface S over which the wheels roll. In other words, the distance between the center of the openings 89 and the bottom edge 88 is just slightly less than the radius of the wheels. In one specific embodiment of the invention, the lower edge 88 of the wind screen was positioned one-quarter inch above the surface S.

The slight spacing between the bottom edge 88 of the wind screen and the surface is sufficient to permit irregularities in the surface to pass below the wind screen without interference therefrom. However, the wind screen substantially encloses the area below the frame and substantially prevents wind from interfering with the marking material as it is sprayed onto the surface as shown in FIG. 7.

-Only one opening is provided through eachof the side walls of the wind screen for each axle, and the axles therefore pass through the same openings of the wind screens regardless of the openings in the frame through which the axles are inserted. Accordingly, the wind screen maintains the same position relative to the bottom of the wheels and the surface which is being sprayed regardless of the position of the frame relative to the surface. This can be seen clearly by comparing FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the frame in its uppermost position relative to the surface, and FIG. 7 shows the frame in its lowermost position. However, the relative positions of the wind screen and the surface remain unchanged.

The inclined front wall portion 23 and the wall 29 which defines the front and rear walls of the canholding chamber are inclined so that the longitudinal axis of the can intersects the surface substantially directly below the front of the spraying apparatus. The nozzle 39 and valve stem 53 need be moved only slightly laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of the can to open the can valve, and the contents of the can are therefore sprayed on an area of the surface which is substantially directly below, or only slightly behind, the front of the spraying apparatus as illustrated by the spray pattern P in FlG. 7. In FIG. 7 the front of the spray is directed onto the surface just behind the lower edge of the front wall 83 of the wind screen.

The front openings 74-77 through the side walls of the frame and the front openings through the side walls of the wind screen are positioned rearwardly of the front of the spraying apparatus a distance at least as great as the radius of the front wheels so that the front of the spraying apparatus can be rolled directly against an obstacle without interference from-the wheels. Since the contents of the can are sprayed substantially below the front of the spraying apparatus, a stripe can be made almost right up to the obstacle.

A further advantage in having the contents of the can sprayed toward the front of the marking apparatus is that the wind screen will protect any point of the sprayed surface from wind and wind blown dirt until the rear of the wind screen passes over the point. Although the spraying apparatus can be conveniently pushed at walking speed, even the short time interval between the passage of the front and the rear of the spraying apparatus over a particular point is sufficient to permit some drying of the sprayed material and re duces the likelihood of dirt and other foreign matter adherring to the sprayed material.

The raising and lowering of thevframe accomplished by selectively inserting the axles in the side openings of the frame varies the width of the stripe. The contents of the can are sprayed in a somewhat cone shaped pattern P, and the sides of the spray pattern diverge from the nozzle even when a nozzle with a rectangular orifice is used. As the frame is moved away from the surface, the width of the stripe increases.

While in the foregoingspecification a detailed description of a specific embodiment of the invention was set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details herein given may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having a pair of spaced-apart side walls, each of the side walls of the frame being provided with front and rear generally vertically extending rows of spaced-apart openings, a front axle extending through one of the front openings in each of the side walls of the frame and a rear axle extending through one of the rear openings in each of the side walls of the frame, the front and rear axles being selectively insertable through each of the openings in the front and rear rows, respectively, whereby the distance of the frame from the surface to be sprayed can be varied, front and rear wheels mounted on the front and rear axles, respectively, and a wind screen having front, rear, and opposite side walls, each of the side walls of the wind screen being provided with a front and a rear opening through which the front and rear axles extend, the openings in the wind screen being positioned so that the lower edge of the wind screen is positioned slightly above the bottom of the wheels.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including holding means on the frame for supporting a valve-equipped spray can in position to dispense the contents of the can on the surface to be sprayed, the holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the can so that the contents thereof are sprayed on the surface adjacent the lower edge of the front wall of the wind screen.

3. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having front, rear, and opposite side walls, each of the side walls of the frame being provided with front and rear generally vertically extending rows of spaced-apart openings, a front axle extending through one of the front openings in each of the side walls of the frame and a rear axle extending through one of the rear openings in each of the side walls of the frame, the front and rear axles being selectively insertable through each of the openings in the front and rear rows, respectively,

whereby the distance of the frame from the surface to be sprayed can be varied, front and rear wheels mounted on the front and rear axles, respectively, and a wind screen having front, rear, and opposite side walls positioned outwardly of the respective walls of the frame, each of the side walls of the wind screen being provided with a front and a rear opening through which the front and rear axles extend, the openings in the wind screen being positioned so that the lower edge of the wind screen is positioned slightly above the bottom of the wheels.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including holding means on the frame for supporting a valve-equipped spray can in position to dispense the contents of the can on the surface to'be sprayed, the holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the can so that the contents thereof are sprayed on the surface adjacent the lower'edge of the front wall of the wind screen. 

1. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having a pair of spaced-apart side walls, each of the side walls of the frame being provided with front and rear generally vertically extending rows of spaced-apart openings, a front axle extending through one of the front openings in each of the side walls of the frame and a rear axle extending through one of the rear openings in each of the side walls of the frame, the front and rear axles being selectively insertable through each of the openings in the front and rear rows, respectively, whereby the distance of the frame from the surface to be sprayed can be varied, front and rear wheels mounted on the front and rear axles, respectively, and a wind screen having front, rear, and opposite side walls, each of the side walls of the wind screen being provided with a front and a rear opening through which the front and rear axles extend, the openings in the wind screen being positioned so that the lower edge of the wind screen is positioned slightly above the bottom of the wheels.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 including holding means on the frame for supporting a valve-equipped spray can in position to dispense the contents of the can on the surface to be sprayed, the holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the can so that the contents thereof are sprayed on the surface adjacent the lower edge of the front wall of the wind screen.
 3. A spraying apparatus comprising a frame having front, rear, and opposite side Walls, each of the side walls of the frame being provided with front and rear generally vertically extending rows of spaced-apart openings, a front axle extending through one of the front openings in each of the side walls of the frame and a rear axle extending through one of the rear openings in each of the side walls of the frame, the front and rear axles being selectively insertable through each of the openings in the front and rear rows, respectively, whereby the distance of the frame from the surface to be sprayed can be varied, front and rear wheels mounted on the front and rear axles, respectively, and a wind screen having front, rear, and opposite side walls positioned outwardly of the respective walls of the frame, each of the side walls of the wind screen being provided with a front and a rear opening through which the front and rear axles extend, the openings in the wind screen being positioned so that the lower edge of the wind screen is positioned slightly above the bottom of the wheels.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 including holding means on the frame for supporting a valve-equipped spray can in position to dispense the contents of the can on the surface to be sprayed, the holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the can so that the contents thereof are sprayed on the surface adjacent the lower edge of the front wall of the wind screen. 